Christian Classics
‹ Aids to Reflection

S. T. Coleridge · 52 of 112

COMMENT.

Often have I heard it said by advocates for the Socinian scheme--True! we are all sinners; but even in the Old Testament God has promised forgiveness on . One of the Fathers (I forget which) supplies the retort--True! God has promised pardon on : but has he promised on sin?--He that shall be forgiven: but where is it said. He that sinneth shall ? But , perhaps, the required in Scripture, the passing into a new and contrary principle of action, this Metanoia**, is in the sinner's own power! at his own liking! He has but to open his eyes to the sin, and the tears are close at hand to wash it away! , the exploded tenet of transubstantiation is scarcely at greater variance with the common sense and experience of mankind, or borders more closely on a contradiction in terms, than this volunteer transmentation, this self-change, as the easy† means of self-salvation! But the reflections of our evangelical author on this subject will appropriately commence the aphorisms relating to spiritual religion.

**Metanoia, the New Testament word, which we render by , compounded of mens, the spirit, or practical reason.

†May I without offence be permitted to record the very appropriate title, with which a stem humorist lettered a collection of Unitarian tracts? "Salvation made easy; or, Every man his own Redeemer."